Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as his conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's statements regarding exposure to herbicides do not meet the legal standard required for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request and will not assign a rating or effective date as this is a procedural issue.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, status post-bladder removal with residuals of bladder cancer, and status post-prostatectomy with erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the claim for an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and retinopathy with bilateral cataracts.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a nexus opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic sinusitis, ulcerative colitis, mechanical low back pain and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been assigned initial ratings.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death was due to exposure to extreme cold during service, specifically his participation in the Ardennes Campaign. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's appeals regarding an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Type II Diabetes Mellitus during the pendency of his claim and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his diabetes mellitus and related complications, as well as for obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU, but further examination is needed to determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing before the Board. No final outcome on service connection or disability evaluation is determined.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.